Professor Sues SMU Over Discrimination Claims

Sean Wang, an assistant professor at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University (SMU), has initiated legal action against the institution, citing unlawful discrimination and retaliation as of November 2025.

The lawsuit garnered attention recently after being reported by journalist Chris Brunet.

Wang, who identifies as Chinese-American, asserts that the Accounting Department has exhibited a consistent pattern of discrimination regarding tenure decisions, particularly since the appointment of Hemang Desai, a professor of Indian descent.

His complaint outlines that among candidates of Indian descent meeting SMU’s criteria for tenure, which includes a minimum of four top-tier publications, there has been a 100% tenure approval rate. In contrast, no candidates of non-Indian descent who met the same publication standards have received similar support, citing five specific rejected applicants.

Among those denied tenure is Mina Pizzini, who also pursued legal action against SMU and reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement.

Wang’s allegations specify that tenure decisions within the Accounting Department have favored candidates of Indian descent over those from other ethnic backgrounds. He claims that if he were not of Chinese ancestry, he would have likely been granted tenure.

Furthermore, Wang’s complaint notes that he was inaccurately recorded in SMU’s human resources records as “White.”

This misclassification, Wang contends, was not a simple oversight, as the term “white” was explicitly entered into his records, despite his ethnicity being evident through his name and personal interactions.

The lawsuit claims this misclassification led to inaccurate records, undermining recognition of his minority status.

The implication of this error raises serious questions about the potential for discrimination against Wang. If true, it could suggest a significant bias within SMU against non-white individuals.

Wang’s complaint also cites several instances of alleged discrimination, noting that faculty members frequently described him as a “bad fit” despite his successful evaluations and contributions to leading journals.

Pab Jotikasthira, another professor at SMU, compared Wang’s performance to that of two recently tenured Indian faculty members, concluding that Wang is significantly more productive than one and comparable to another, who has a decade more experience. Jotikasthira reportedly stated that any reasonable assessment would find Wang’s citation metrics sufficient for tenure.

He further described the insistence on “fit” within the department as reliant on personal preference, deeming it “absurd.” Jotikasthira emphasized that Wang’s achievements cannot simply be attributed to luck, given the rigorous standards of the journals where his work has been published.

The Daily Caller has made inquiries to Wang, SMU, and other involved parties for comments.